President Harry Truman—Quiet, Plainspoken, Fiercely Principled! – A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES}
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PRESIDENT TRUMAN’S LASTING LEGACY – A RAINBOW OF ROLE MODELS {WEDNESDAY SERIES}
My family recently visited the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum. The first thing I noticed when entering the library was that his “life-size” statue was taller than I am, at five feet eleven inches. During the tour, I learned Truman was two inches shorter than I. And by the end of the tour, I realized that President Truman stood tall and never quit, regardless of the difficulty or odds.
Harry Truman: A Steady Leader
Truman was 33 when WW I started and was exempt from the draft, but volunteered and was commissioned as a first Lieutenant for a Field Artillery Regiment. When he arrived, his men saw a short, small man wearing thick glasses. Despite their first impression, Truman took command of his unit and earned the loyalty of his men through unwavering leadership. They followed him not because he was loud, but because he was steady. It was that steady leadership that returned every man and horse in his unit home alive after the war!
Truman was a strong and visionary leader who always took care of his men.
Harry S. Truman, An Underestimated President
April 1945 – A New President – President Franklin D. Roosevelt Dies
Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. He assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt
As Vice President, Truman met with the President only twice during his eight-month tenure and was excluded from top-secret meetings. But suddenly, he is President of the United States, Harry S Truman. While Roosevelt knew he was dying, the American people and media were shocked and didn’t hide their disbelief. One newspaper described Truman as a man who was never expected to become President.
When the Presidency fell on his shoulders, Truman led! One of his very first decisions would be among the most consequential in human history: authorizing the use of the atomic bomb to end World War II. Truman could drop the most powerful bomb ever created or risk losing over one million American soldiers’ lives by invading Japan. He listened to his advisors, both for and against, and decided to use this deadly new weapon, believing that ending the war swiftly could prevent more suffering and death on both sides.
Dewey Defeats Truman! WHOOPS – Just Kidding!
Many viewed Truman as an accidental president, and pollsters (still essentially useless) predicted an easy reelection defeat. “Dewey Defeats Truman” headline still stands as one of journalism’s most humbling moments.
Truman did what he always did—he outworked, outlasted, and out-believed them. He barnstormed across the country by train, connecting with everyday Americans. He won, not because the odds were in his favor, but because his principles were.
General Douglas MacArthur’s Arrogance Gets Him Fired!
General Douglas MacArthur was a national hero—brilliant, bombastic, and wildly popular. However, when MacArthur overstepped his authority during the Korean War, Truman made the difficult decision and fired the popular general to preserve civilian control of the military. The fallout was seismic, but Truman never wavered. “I fired him because he wouldn’t respect the authority of the President.”
TRUMAN’S SECOND TERM
New international threats, the Korean War, and domestic challenges dominated President Truman’s remaining years in office.
Although he received no pension, he accepted no speaking fees, no corporate board positions, and no payments for access, and walked the streets of Independence as a private citizen. He believed that public service was a sacred duty, not a ticket to wealth, unlike recent former presidents Clinton and Obama, who have amassed hundreds of millions of dollars since the end of their terms.
Sometimes the right people aren’t the loudest or the slickest—they’re the ones who keep stepping up, even when no one believes they can.
Despite leaving office with a historically low approval rating, President Truman is now considered one of America’s top Presidents for courageous decisions that shaped the world we live in today.
PRESIDENT TRUMAN BUILT AN OFFICE IN HIS LIBRARY
President Truman used this office daily from 1957 to 1966. View the office from an adjacent gallery that features exhibits on Truman’s post-Presidential years.
THE OVAL OFFICE AS IT WAS DURING TRUMAN’S ADMINISTRATION
He never asked to be a hero. But when history knocked on his door, Truman—quiet, plainspoken, fiercely principled—answered.
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I am a proud nerd (as my beautiful wife and daughter have told me) investment and finance blogger with an N.C. State, Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University, MBA, and Harvard University, Advanced Management education.
I left a corporate career because I desired to make a difference as a speaker and writer. I was blessed to be coached and mentored by strong women and men in my family and professional life. It is my time to serve and give back.
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I started my first business at ~13 years of age (a small but brilliantly created plant nursery). I am a successful investor in stocks, options, and real estate, and am happy to share my financial and investment lessons. I am NOT a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog as recommendations for your situation. As an investor, you must establish your risk tolerance and loss threshold. Investing in any asset involves risk, including the potential for complete loss.
Please seek your licensed CPA or fiduciary financial advisors for individual financial advice.
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